If lockout ends, here's Magic's to-do list

5 things Orlando must do begins with Howard

September 11, 2011|Brian Schmitz, Magic Insider

There are whispers of progress being heard on the lockout front. Could be a mirage. But if the NBA can save its season and we are a go for an October/November launch, the Magic will have to hit the ground running.

Let's talk some basketball, for how ever long the positive vibes might last.

5 things the Magic must do immediately when the NBA returns:

1.Reach out to Dwight Howard. The Magic, who allegedly have been barred from speaking to their players during the lockout, need to reconnect with their superstar, considering he's heading into his walk year. They learned a lesson after losing touch with Shaq before he bailed. Welcome Dwight back with a fruit basket, ask him about the summer of planking and tell him he'll be in the loop regarding personnel moves. Remind him he's not only the franchise player, but a franchise partner.

2.Define Gilbert Arenas' role, please. Stan Van Gundy needs to open the point-guard job between Arenas and incumbent Jameer Nelson. This will create competition, if not re-open Gilbert's no-holds barred Twitter account. Arenas, unhappy how he was used for 49 games after arriving in a trade last season, will learn where he stands. The Magic also will discover quickly if Gilbert sufficiently rehabbed his knee and whipped his body into shape.

3.Don't sign any free agents to deals longer than one year. The Magic have 10 players under contract, not counting two rookies. It would be nice to re-sign shooting guard Jason Richardson or tempting to sign, say, Tayshaun Prince, to what might be the new mid-level exception per the next CBA. But if Howard bolts, the Magic will have to rebuild. No reason to have any more lengthy deals on the books, unless Howard winks at them. Orlando likely will anoint J.J. Redick as the starting shooting guard.

4.Sign a back-up center. GM Otis Smith decided not to find relief for Howard after trading Marcin Gortat last season, and it backfired. The Magic were forced to play power forwards Ryan Anderson or Brandon Bass at center when Howard was serving suspensions for exceeding the technical-foul threshold. Plus, Howard had to play extended minutes. Jeff Foster would fit nicely as a back-up at the right price. Doubtful that Daniel Orton --- who had knee issues and didn't play last season as a rookie -- will be ready for the job.

5.Howard, if he wants to remain in town, needs to heavily recruit all-star point guards Chris Paul or Deron Williams before the trade deadline. They are the only marquee free agents left heading into next summer. Sounds like tampering, but players talk, you know. The Magic are too far over the cap to sign big-time free agents. If Howard can persuade either star --- preferably Paul --- to force a trade (a la Carmelo Anthony), the Magic will be back in contention. And Howard can plank just fine for years in Orlando.

To read more of Schmitz' Magic Insider, go to orlandosentinel.com/magic.

"Lockout League" set

Impact Basketball is expecting more than 60 NBA players to train and play games in Las Vegas Sept. 12-23.

It is being dubbed the "Lockout League," although few superstars are scheduled to attend.

Some of the biggest names are John Wall, Chauncey Billups, Stephen Curry, Stephen Jackson and Zach Randolph.

Three former Magic players --- Rashard Lewis, Courtney Lee and Corey Maggette --- are expected to participate. Former Gator Marreese Speights is also on the list.

Shaq statuesque

Shaquille O'Neal was honored recently by the unveiling of his statue at his alma mater, LSU.

Weight: 900 pounds (the statue, not Shaq).

O'Neal called the mammoth likeness of him dunking, "The Big Bronze."

Even Shaq was surprised at the size of the thing.

"I almost cried when I seen how big it was," O'Neal told reporters. "I said, 'Damn.' But I had to man up."

O'Neal graduated from LSU in 2000 --- eight years after leaving the school to join the Magic as the top pick in the 1992 draft.

If there's a lock-out shortened season and he's healthy…. would you rule out Shaq pulling a Brett Favre? Better chance of him pulling a groin at TNT trying to out-quip Charles Barkley.

This 'n' That

Well, David Stern wanted the NBA game to go global --- just not his players….If you've seen our page on orlandosentinel.com/magic, you'll notice the live clock ticking off time since the owners locked out the players. Today marks the 72nd day. If the lockout continues, day 138 should be interesting. It's the day (Nov. 15) when most players are expected to miss their first paycheck….All-star Deron Williams arrived in Turkey on Friday to begin training with his new team. Other players have signed overseas, which begs the question: Where's the union solidarity? Williams is getting out of Dodge and getting paid. At some point, the league's stateside rank-and-file will become very antsy after checking their bank balances…My prediction: Williams will last about three weeks after he realizes there are more practices than games and far less leg-room in coach. Compared to the NBA, playing on foreign soil is like camping.